We head west to Santa Anita for Thursday’s selection and once again tackle the fabled downhill turf course for the seventh and feature, an allowance contest for four-year-olds and up. The field of nine offers several graded stakes players, and all run for their share of a 63k purse, so let’s get started.

Race 7 – Santa Anita – post time: 7:07 p.m. EST

CARBONITE (1), starting for the first time last out for trainer John Sadler, he got a clear path three-wide to get up in time to win by a nose. In taking that OC field, he posted the highest last out speed number in his first start on this course, and I can’t see why he won’t improve again today.

SAYIF (2), his North American debut on this course a year ago was a forgettable one. Since that start he’s been plying his trade on the lawns of Gulfstream and Monmouth, with minimal results at both, including a double-digit defeat last out in the Grade 3 Cliffhanger. He’s been working lights out since arriving here for trainer Patrick Biancone, but this isn’t one of that conditioner’s strongest spots.

MAKE MUSIC FOR ME (3), he’s been struggling in his last four, albeit three of those starts were against graded company, but struggling nonetheless. He starts for the first time since November, and with these extended layoffs, trainer Alexis Barba wins at close to 30 percent, he also gets the blinkers back on, and that’s also proven to be a solid training angle. Still I think this five-year-old by Bernstein has too much to do at a distance he hasn’t seen in awhile.

AL INSTANTE (4), Chilean-bred won on this course two back, but last out against a Hollywood overnight field, he had nothing. Ken Nettles takes over the training duties today, and keep in mind, this five-year-old by Caesarion has won with seven of his 11 turf starts.

LEROY’S DYNAMEAUX (5), as the chalk, he lost a head bob last out in the Fitzsimmons run at Turf Paradise, but when Mark Glatt starts a beaten favorite next out, he gets them home first 20 percent of the time. This gelded son of Leroidesanimaux has faced some tough customers in the past, and even with the narrow defeat in last, his recent form gives me cause for concern.

BUD I CRUSHED IT (6) and how in taking that maiden field at Hollywood at odds of 86-1. He followed up that effort with a third place try here in last, for his first back to back money finishes in quite some time. He’s light all around for this group, but I can see him blowing up a superfecta here.

SILVER SUMMATION (7) starts for the first time since November and for a new trainer in Mike Puype. Though these are average training angles for Puype, this son of Closing Argument has turned in a pair of solid works around the “dogs”, and he definitely should be consider for exotic wagers.

THOMAS BAINES (8), claimed from the Doug O’Neill barn last out after closing to win by a nose on this course earlier last month. In starting for new trainer Robert Diodoro today, he also gets the services of Hall of Fame jock Mike Smith, and given his only bad effort was two back in the Grade 1 Malibu, I can see it, but I prefer him on the all-weather surfaces.

PRESSDAY (9), 2010 was a memorable year for this Australian-bred, as he won five of his eight starts, four of which were at that country’s graded levels. 2011 however was more than forgettable, as he went winless in five tries, and failed to come close to a board finish. In prep for his North American debut, trainer John Sadler has been putting him through some pretty quick works, and based on limited info, you’re either on board or you’re not. I feel myself reaching for the Kool-Aid.

I see John Sadler getting his picture taken today, just not with Pressday, but with Carbonite. I’ll box him along with Silver Summation, Pressday, and Al Instante. Rick’s picks: 1-7-9-4.

We begin the race week at Aqueduct with its eighth and feature, an allowance contest for four-year-olds and up running one mile on the inner track. This n1x “other than” test comes with a purse of 67k, so it should prove to be a competitive affair. Let’s get started.

Race 8 – Aqueduct – post time: 3:46 p.m. EST
 
COLOSSAL GIFT (1), after coming close numerous times on both turf and all-weather surfaces for trainer Christophe Clement, ridgling by Songandaprayer started for the first time for trainer Mike Hushion and on the dirt last out, and moved out of the maiden ranks with a hand ride victory. Hushion, who is winning here at 33 percent, goes to jockey David Cohen for today’s ride, as Ramon Dominguez is aboard another.

STEELBRIDGE (2) makes his first start of 2012 after coming up empty against an OC50k group here last November. Though the time-away and starting a beaten favorite next out are solid angles for trainer Shug McGaughey, it’s that time-away play here that’s not sitting well with me. He’s already a short morning line, so I’ll look elsewhere.

CRUSHING (3), not an encouraging effort here in last against similar, but since that start he’s turned in several nice works. Trainer Chad Brown is as solid as they come, and today gets the services of top jock Ramon Dominguez, but I’ve got to tell you, this son of Giacomo has shown a pattern of stringing together bad starts. Proceed with caution.

SMALL TOWN TALK (4) makes his first start since last May after a dismal double-digit loss at Belmont, where according to the comment posted in the past performances, he raced three-wide and argued with a pair. What! I guess the Mister Ed came out in him.

NACHO SAINT (5), during his sophomore season last year, he was known to hang around in graded stakes, both in the Gotham and Sunland Derby, and even showed in a pricey stakes at Charles Town, but since, he’s struggled to get out of the n1x category as his record of 1 win from 15 starts attest. This guy does show 6 place efforts, so he knows how to get a check, and may today, just not the biggest one.

COSMIC KING (6), trainer Dale Romans goes to the quick turnaround with this 6-year-old by Lion Heart in the hopes of building on solid showing here in last against similar. He just got out-kicked in that effort, but connections go with Mike Luzzi in the irons today, and I like the move for this guy. It may take some quicker opening numbers for him to factor late, but I think he will.

CRIBNOTE (7), as a two-year-old way back when in 2008, this son of Read The Footnotes finished on the board in a pair of Grade 1’s, and his return to racing last year proved to be a bit of a success, as won two and showed three times, including last out facing  similar. Trainer Richard Violette is winning here at 30 percent and equally tough is jock Alan Garcia, who’s hitting at 21 percent. I like where this 6-year-old is headed, and he could bring value to today’s plays.

STAR OF NEW YORK (8)  was last out against state-breds for trainer Rick Dutrow, but before that against open company, not so much. Look Dutrow is solid here, and the speed number this gelded son of Five Star Day posted in last was his best since the last time he faced New Yorkers, therein lies the problem for me, the open company thing. Watch the tote-board, as it won’t lie.

LONCOLN PENHY (9) makes his first start for trainer Paulino Ortiz after being claimed from the 15k ranks last out and currently he’s winless from his 20 previous starters in such a spot.

I’m going with Dale Roman’s Cosmic King here, but the Dutrow entry scares me like the disciplinary boards he seem to face on a monthly basis. So I’m throwing him out and going with Cribnote, Nacho Saint, and Colossal Gift in what surely will be exotic boxes. Rick’s picks: 6-7-5-1.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Stuart Janney III’s 6-year-old gelding Hymn Book is on track to make his first start of 2012 in the $500,000 Donn Handicap (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Feb. 11, and Phipps Stable’s 5-year-old Boisterous is set to make his first start since early November in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1) the same afternoon, according to trainer Shug McGaughey.

“He’s been a pleasant surprise since we put him on the dirt,” said McGaughey of Hymn Book Wednesday afternoon. “He ran very well (second) in the Cigar Mile (G1), but we caught the only horse (To Honor and Serve) to come back and win after they ran in the Breeders’ Cup (Classic)..

“Boisterous is just a good horse. We got a little off track with him when he ran in the Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga (5th). He came back strong in his last two races and got a little time off on a farm in Ocala.”

A Phipps family homebred by Distorted Humor, Boisterous won both of his starts late in the year – the Knickerbocker (G3) at BelmontPark in mid-October and Red Smith Handicap (G2) at Aqueduct last out on Nov. 5. 

Hymn Book is a Kentucky homebred by Arch and won an ‘off the turf’ overnight stakes and finished second to Flat Out in the Suburban Handicap (G2) at Belmont earlier in the season. After a sixth-place run on turf in the Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2) at Saratoga, he won the Firethorn overnight stakes at Belmont in October before rallying to finish 1 ¾ lengths behind To Honor and Serve in the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Nov. 26.

Jockey John Velazquez rides both Hymn Book and Boisterous.

Coglianese Photos
Hymn Book

The parade of graded stakes from Santa Anita didn’t stop with Saturday’s card, and it continues today with the running of the Grade II San Antonio. The main track is the host for a field of seven four-year-olds and up running the true handicap distance of a mile and a eighth, and to the victor, the bulk of a 200k purse. Let’s get started.

Race 7 – Santa Anita – post time: 5 p.m. EST
 
TRES BORRACHOS (1), graded player makes his seventh consecutive start at racing’s highest levels, but exits a pair of place finishes both here and at Hollywood where he went off as the race favorite only to disappoint.Seven-year-old by Ecton Park knows how to get a check as he rapidly approaches a million in earnings, but it’s been since mid-July when he last had his picture taken, and though he’s a solid earner, the camera will have to wait until another day.

UH OH BANGO (2), his win in the Grade 2 San Pasquale last out came under the steady hand of Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who retains the ride for today, and while that’s a big plus, the return to the handicap distance, of which he’s winless from three starts, is the minus. He’s lightly raced for a five-year-old, and this son of Top Hit could be just hitting his stride now, so don’t overlook with all plays.

GAME ON DUDE (3), had it been run at today’s route, he would be your reigning Breeders’ Cup Classic champion, but it wasn’t, and so he had to settle for a runner-up spot. Nevertheless, this Bob Baffert trained son of Awesome Again has finished in the money with eight of his previous ten starts, and this spot is tailor made for his first try since the Classic. He is clearly the one to beat.

EL GATO MALO (4), his last start on real dirt came during the Fairplex meet, where he struggled to finish third against an overnight group, and now he tackles multiple Graded Stakes winners. You know I don’t get it, and this would be an upset of monumental proportions.

ASHTAR (5), Chilean-bred son of Merchant of Venice exits three consecutive fourth place finishes in Graded Stakes, but all on the turf. Yeah, you know I’m not buying it, but if you think the latter entry is going to be a stretch, I’ll shave my head should this guy find the winner’s circle.

VICTORY PETE (6), he’s another Graded player from the turf side of the aisle, but this guy has shown some ability on the dirt, as he did show in the Grade 3 Cornhusker run on the plains at Prairie Meadows. Having not seen the winner’s circle since at least 2009, the legions of Game On Dude supporters should be quaking in their boots. Forget about it!

SKIPSHOT (7), since his Grade 2 Swaps win back in 2010, it’s been lean times for this ridgling out of Skip Away. He did hit the board last out in the San Pasquale where he was re-united with jockey Joe Talamo, who guided him to a place finish in the G2 Affirmed, and though he’s worked well leading up to this start, it’s hard for me to endorse.

This is Game On Dude’s race to lose, and I don’t think he will. He’s squarely on top, along with Uh Oh Bango, Tres Borrachos, and with my fellow West Banker Joe Talamo’s Skipshot. Rick’s picks: 3 w/2-1-7.

Benoit Photo
Game On Dude

Race 6, Santa Anita – Robert B. Lewis Stakes G2 – 1 1/16 miles for three-year-olds – post time: 6:05 p.m. EST

The Robert Lewis is the first two-turn Derby prep race to be run at Santa Anita this winter and spring in the lead-up to the first Saturday in May.  All but New Mexico invader Isn’t He Clever (1) is based in California.  The Robert Lewis will be the third consecutive race in which Liaison (2) and Rousing Sermon (6) will knock heads.  Only a half-length and a head have separated them in their last two starts, both of which were won by Liaison.

The main track at Santa Anita has been speed-favoring since the rain in late January, so a good place to start is to look for the speed in the race.  There is no confirmed front-end colt in here, but it is not hard to imagine that Isn’t He Clever will be part of the pace scenario.  He has been right near the front in all four lifetime starts sprinting, and I doubt that his connections want him stuck down the rail for long where he could eat some of the Santa Anita dirt.  On the far outside of the field of eight, Chips All In (8) is another candidate to go for the lead.  This guy sold for only $4,500 at Keeneland in 2010 and began his career winning a $32 maiden claiming race at Golden Gate.  He did win an overnight stakes on the last day of 2011 at Santa Anita, but that win came on the grass.  He owns four wins and one place in five starts, and that kind of success is always worth noting.

In the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park in December, Rousing Sermon trailed the leaders by as many as 8 lengths down the backstretch before launching his late kick to pass all but the winner Liaison.  He had tracked closer to the pace in previous races, so we’ll have to wait to see if his connections try another from-out-of-the-clouds approach.  Liaison, by contrast, was never more than two lengths behind the pacesetter in the CashCall when he edged clear in the stretch and held off Rousing Sermon.  Will we be treated to something similar on Saturday?

A horse that I like, Sky Kingdom (5) finished fourth in the CashCall.  Like Rousing Sermon, he cranked up from the back of the field, but he did not pass as many late in the race falling 2¼ lengths short.  He is a son of Empire Maker, so as the going gets longer (not the case here) he may overtake some of his rivals.  Sky Kingdom is trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Martin Garcia.  I’ll Have Another (4) showed a great deal of promise for Doug O’Neill last summer at Del Mar, finishing second in the Grade 2 Best Pal in only his second career start.  A trip to Saratoga for the Hopeful run on a sloppy track in early September did not turn out well as he finished almost 20 lengths behind the winner that day.  This is his first race since then, so we can assume that he encountered some physical problems during or after that race.  This is a tough spot for a return, but I have a feeling this horse will play a role in this race.

Groovin’ Solo (3) broke his maiden last out on Dec. 30.  Trainer Myung Kwon Cho pays little attention to class when he enters his horses.  Groovin’ Solo started in the CashCall Futurity while still a maiden, but equipment problems did him early in that race so we did not get a clear look at what he might be.  He gets blinkers for the first time in what has to be another huge class test for him.  Empire Way (7) rounds out the cast, starting for trainer Mike Harrington who seems to have a better string of young horses this year than in the recent past.  Empire Way finished fifth in the CashCall and sixth in the Hollywood Prevue.  This will be his first try off synthetics, so he is a bit of an unknown wildcard here.

I hope to get some value on Isn’t He Clever, and I’ll pair him up with Liaison in the exacta.  Rousing Sermon is my pick for third, followed by I’ll Have Another.  Bob’s Picks:  2-1-6-4

Race 8 – Santa Anita – Strub G2 1 1/8 on dirt for four-year-olds – post time: 7:07 p.m. EST

Tapizar (7) is the horse to beat in the Grade 2 Strub.  He has looked sensational several times during his career and looks like he is once again at his very best after a win in the San Fernando.  I think he is the best in the race but some have doubts that he can withstand the pace pressure from Ultimate Eagle (4) and still get 1 1/8.  That one is a multiple graded stakes winner on turf and can get the distance, but he has yet to run on dirt.  His trainer says he takes to the dirt in his training, but still it would be nice to see him actually run on it since he did not do well on synthetic surfaces. 

Prayer For Relief (2) has been the model of consistency except for his Clark flop, but he was still recovering from an illness in that race.  He was third in the San Fernando but should improve and be in a good stalking position behind Tapizar and Ultimate Eagle.  Jaycito (1) is the big question mark since he hasn’t run since August and even then had to deal with various ailments.  He was a promising two-year-old and his workouts indicate that he’s ready to get back to serious action for Bob Baffert. 

Indian Winter (6) has been mainly a sprinter and hasn’t run this far since April.  He is bred to get the distance but it’s a lot to ask.  Balladry (8) was a non-threatening second to Tapizar in the San Fernando in what was his first stakes experience in 12 starts.  He’ll need another step up to hit the board today.  Clubhouse Ride (5) has not run in over a year so this will be an acid test for him.  That said, he has hit the board in all 3 of his graded stakes and could be one to watch down the road.  Last but not least is Beer Meister (3).  He is a stakes winner but has not found success at this level.  If the race was at Turf Paradise I would give him consideration.  Kat’s Picks: 7-2-4-1

We end our work week at a place where we haven’t spent much time, Aqueduct. No it’s not the Holly Springs Stakes in the third, but the fifth on the card, an optional-claiming test for three-year-olds, and when we talk about the quality purses of these OC contests from Gulfstream and Santa Anita, you can’t overlook this one, as it’s 67k. Let’s get started.

Race 5 – Aqueduct – post time: 2:19 p.m. EST

SUMMER SUNSET (1), a couple of points of interest from his last start back here in December, he was DQed to last from a solid six length win, and then was claimed by the Dominic Galluscio barn, who by the way wins 21 percent of his starters after the claim. This trainer can get this son of Lawyer Ron to fire, but I think he’s still a race or two away from taking a group like this.

KEVIN SILVERLASPIA (2) exits a nice muddy score here last month, but it was against considerably lesser, and when he’s faced close to this level in his previous two, he was a non-factor and will be again today.

RACONTEUR (3), always a short price in his previous six starts, this Pletcher trainee finally broke out of the maiden ranks last out, and did so by a neck going the handicap distance. That effort came with sleep-walking like fractions, but this son of A.P. Indy is fast, as his last two works indicate. The all-around connections are hard to ignore here.

MONEY IN MOTION (4) before finding the mud not to his liking here last month, this gelded son of Rainmaker was one across the board in his three previous starts, but against a different caliber. Those successes aside, this guy’s a bit light in the saddle to threaten this group.

MAYBE’S MASTER (5), Pennsylvania-bred enters on the strength of back to back wins over the Penn National and Laurel main tracks, and showed a strong close in each. Trainer Mike Trombetta is currently 6 for 8 in the money, with three wins, and when teaming with jockey Kendrick Carmouche, who makes his first start here, they’re a 31 percent winning tandem. Don’t overlook.

TWO SEVENTEEN (6) snatched from the Christophe Clement barn in his debut, and then promptly won going away at this distance for new trainer Bruce Levine here last month. It only gets better for this son of Thunder Gulch, as today he gets the services of top jock Ramon Dominguez, and he’s winning here at almost 30 percent. He’s the one the rest have to beat.

HOLIDAY PROMISE (7), like the other Pletcher entry, this colt by Harlan’s Holiday exits a strong effort here placing against similar. He’s turned in a month of solid works since that last start, and just as with his “other” starter, you just can’t ignore this guy either.

ROMANCING THE GOLD (8), in a freaky effort here last out, he got up in time to break his maiden at odds of over 40-1. That might not have been a lucky try, as trainer Jeremiah Englehart is having a solid meet and year, and keeping always tough David Cohen in the irons is a major plus. This son of Medallist could once again be a viable play at a price.

RED BENDEL (9) claimed last out from the Zayat/Pletcher team, where he won at this distance but against the lowest of levels. This class-hike does him in today.

These are the types (Two Seventeen), Ramon Dominguez gets his picture taken with, and will again today. I’m playing Maybe’s Master for a strong effort, along with Romancing The Gold, and just one of the Pletcher duo, Raconteur. Rick’s picks: 6-5-8-3.

We’ll head back to the West Coast for our Thursday selection and try Santa Anita’s third on the card, an optional-claiming contest for three-year-old fillies running one mile on the turf. As with most of the optional-claiming affairs run here, the purse is a noteworthy one, this time 58k, so let’s get started.

Race 3 – Santa Anita Park – post time: 5:02 p.m. EST

ASSURE (1) never threatened last out in the Blue Northern, and today faces the show finisher from that start, who had her number. Trainer Paula Capestro adds blinkers for the first time, and she’s won with but two from twenty starters. Others appear stronger at this time.

TWELVE FOLDS (2), though trainer Mike Machowsky’s winning percentage is so-so with his first turf starters, when he brings them from real dirt to the lawn, the winning formula increases to almost 30 percent. Filly by Cindago (Indian Charlie), smoked a state-bred maiden field sprinting here in last, and after a solid work around the “dogs” here last week, she looks formidable for her turf debut.

BYRAMA (3) hopped, skipped and jumped starting last out in the Blue Northern, where she still managed to show, but it had to cost her another spot. Trainer Simon Callaghan switches to always tough rider Rafael Bejarano in the hopes it doesn’t happen again, and she’s another you can’t ignore for exotic plays.

GRASER (4), Mike Mitchell starter makes her North American debut, and with all his training angles in play here, that’s a high percentage shot. In her last start at Newmarket she finished just a couple of lengths back, but at a time that won’t work with these today. She does get the services of Joel Rosario for today’s start, and when he rides for Mitchell, well that’s almost a 40 percent trip to the winner’s circle.

MY KENTUCKY ROSE (5), in her first start for Troy Taylor and first on the lawn, she broke in fifth and stayed there facing similar on the downhill course. Before shipping in from Chicago, she’d won back to backs on Hawthorne’s main, so maybe her future success lies on the track just to the outside of this one.

INDECISE (6) just missed in the same contest last out as the aforementioned filly, and when trainer Richard Mandella stretches them out in next, his starters win at 22 percent. Filly by Pleasant Tap is one across the board in her three starts, and today she retains the services of jockey Joe Talamo, who’s gotten the better of me in my last two selections from Santa Anita, so I’m inclined not to let it happen again.

Like I said, Joe Talamo may beat me three in a row, but it won’t be from winning, so Indecise gets the top spot, along with Byrama, and Graser. If supers are in play, add Twelve Folds. Rick’s picks: 6-3-4-2.

We start the race week off this time at Gulfstream Park, where we once again tackle a pricey optional-claiming contest, this time with none in for the claim. A field of eight three-year-old fillies will travel a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the main track, and battle for their share of the 53k purse. Let’s get started.

Race 8 – Gulfstream Park – post time: 3:59 p.m. EST

OFF LIMITS (1), makes her first start of the year after taking an Aqueduct maiden contest last November. This Bill Mott trained filly by Include was a bit green in that start, but she got it in gear and drew away for the win. Jockey Junior Alvarado stays on board in his first day of starts here in South Florida, and this girl will continue to improve, just not enough to take this.

NUFFSAID NUFFSAID (2), in a gutsy effort to break her maiden last out, she battled throughout the stretch to prevail by a neck. She’s put in the standard works since that score early last month, and has never finished worse than second in her three lifetime starts. This will be her third start of the current cycle, and I look for her best effort yet.

MACANUDA (3), two of her last three starts have come here and at this level, each ending with money finishes, including a show try last out. In that contest she had nothing late, and was easily handled by the outside filly. I don’t see why she can’t hit the board again, but it won’t be in the top spot.

HOT ROOTS (4) exits the same contest as the two aforementioned girls, but she was clearly overmatched, as she finished nearly nine lengths back. Trainer Eddie Kenneally is winning here at 21 percent, but I don’t see this Indian Charlie offspring making up that much ground to these.

TAKER HOME (5), filly by Vindication was claimed in her maiden score last out, and starts today for new trainer Barbara Baird, who doesn’t start many, and shows minimal results from those tries. This girl will have to reach new speed levels to factor against these, and I don’t see that happening.

DONNATALE (6), debut victory came here sprinting, and it was an impressive one, as she started slowly but came back to win drawing away under the patient ride from jockey Johnny Velasquez. He stays aboard for trainer Michelle Nihei, and she posts three wins from her 11 starts. She’s going to bring a price, and this wouldn’t be a shocker.

NEWBIE (7) has been on the sidelines since raising the white flag against a state-bred overnight crowd at Belmont last October. She resumed a steady work out regime since arriving here in December, and they’ve been average, as is trainer John Kimmel’s record with these extended layoffs. I’m going to pass based on that fact alone.

THE CAT’S ALL THAT (8), filly by Discreet Cat has finished second in her last two, both at this level, including a heartbreaking neck loss earlier last month. Since that defeat, connections have gotten a bullet work out of her, but on the Palm Meadows turf. I don’t understand it, but I do know trainer Chuck Peery, who’s looking for his first win this meet and ownership are all in for the win, as they’ve enlisted top jock Julien Leparoux for the ride, and that’ll be the ticket.

I like The Cat’s All That, but not enough to single her, so I’ll box her along with Nuffsaid Nuffsaid, Macanuda and Donnatale in exotic wagers and hope for the highest of odds to come in first. Rick’s picks: 8-2-3-6.

Sunday’s picking winner’s selection is the Grade 2 Forward Gal for three-year-old fillies at seven furlongs, and though it doesn’t offer the purse of its male counterpart, the Grade 3 Holy Bull, this may be the toughest race on the card. Let’s break these young ladies down.

Race 9 – Gulfstream Park – post time: 4:17 p.m. EST

GOOD DEED (1), winner of three straight, the last in Stakes action, and in impressive fashion. Trainer Steve Margolis sends this daughter of Broken Vow into the graded waters for the first time, and she’s more than ready. Jock Corey Lanerie, who was on board for those wins, flies in for this contest, and this girl is extremely dangerous here.

QUICK FLIP (2), the pressure of graded company cooked her last out in the Old Hat, and it doesn’t get any easier with today’s group. She’s shown the necessary sped to challenge this field, and frankly there’s not much separating her from the rest of these girls. You’ve got to make the call here.

YARA (3), winner last out against a state-bred overnight field came at this distance, but nothing close to this quality. She’s won two of her four starts, but those two losses came with times that’ll be necessary to win this. Reluctantly, I’m looking elsewhere.

SACRISTY (4), her win in the Grade 3 Old Hat came with her pulling away at six furlongs, and there doesn’t appear to be anything to suggest she won’t like this bit of a stretch-out. Trainer Wayne Catalano couldn’t be any hotter than the 38 percent he’s winning at here; especially the better than 1 in 4 he’s taking to the winners’ circle with his last out winners. This daughter of Pulpit is quite formidable in this spot.

BROADWAY’S ALIBI (5), though she hasn’t faced the stakes company most in here have, this is a Todd Pletcher trained and John Velasquez ridden girl by Vindication, so what more do you need to know. She’s posted back to back speed numbers that are tops in this field, and to ignore because of price may cost you more.

SAY A NOVENA (6) liked the way she rallied to finish second last out in the Grade 3 Old Hat, which was a rebounding try off her disappointing effort in the BC Juvenile Fillies. Trainer Ed Plesa puts the shades on this filly out of a Songandaprayer for the first time, and though that’s an average play for him, this girl needs to get re-focused.  One of her three wins came at this distance, so just like the rest, look before you leap.

I don’t think the Grade 3 Holy Bull could be any tougher than these sophomore fillies, and I would love to see a few of these girls down the road competing against the boys, but those times will come. For now I’m going with Good Deed, followed closely by Sacristy, Say A Novena, and Broadway’s Alibi. Rick’s picks: 1-4-6-5.